Title: Using a Chromebook at work
Date: 2022-10-16 23:00

Since I'm only using a terminal ssh and a web browser at work, and because my
beloved [Thinkpad X1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkPad_X1_series) corp
laptop was due for a refresh, I went for a brand new [HP Elite
Dragonfly](https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/mdp/laptops/hp-elite-dragonfly)
[Chromebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromebook):

- The [12<sup>th</sup> generation i7](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/226258/intel-core-i71265u-processor-12m-cache-up-to-4-80-ghz/specifications.html)
  along with the 32G of DDRM4 RAM are really nice for local development.
- The 500G of NVMe M.2 SSD is a teensy bit overkill for a "cloud-oriented"
  laptop, but I won't complain
- The 13.5" 2256x1506 screen is bright enough, but since it's a touchscreen,
  the slightest brush against it will be considered as an input, which is
  annoying. Of course, there is no way to disable this. I also stuffed the
  stylus in a drawer in my desk because it's useless and loss-prone.
- The 5MP 1080p webcam is really good, no doubt allowing coworkers can see in
  great details how my shaving schedule sucks.
- The [titan C security chip](https://cloud.google.com/titan-security-key/) is
  reportedly good.
- The speakers are garbage, but that's expected, and I'm not using them anyway.
- The lid looks a tad more brittle than it should be, but the build as a whole
  looks sturdy enough.

Software-wise, it works great if your workplace is using Google for everything:
Google Calendar, GMail, Custom Google Store, … everything is completely
integrated and polished, and [chromoting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_Remote_Desktop) is butter-smooth.
It's also possible to step outside of the Google
World, thanks to the ([properly sandboxed](
https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/platform2/+/HEAD/vm_tools))
"[Linux development environment](
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439 )", and it's working ok.

But there are still a ton of [paper cuts]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_cut_bug ):

- Inability to not merge windows in the taskbar: it's annoying since one tends
  to have *a couple* of chrome windows. Moreover, there is no way to spawn another instance
  of an app with a single click.
- The fans exhausts are on the bottom, meaning that it'll sounds as if the
  laptop is trying to take off should you use it on a non-solid surface, like
  your sofa, a pillow, your belly or a blanket.
- The right-click on the touchpad is triggered by a click with two fingers, the
  usual right click is equivalent to a left-click.
- No way to put the taskbar on top of the screen, but at least it can be hidden
  automatically.
- The terminal is an [html app](
  https://chromium.googlesource.com/apps/libapps/+/HEAD/nassh/docs/FAQ.md) with
  a [terrible typing latency](https://pavelfatin.com/typing-with-pleasure/).
- Speaking of the terminal, `<Ctrl-Click>` sometimes work, but more often than
  not doesn't. Moreover, `<Ctrl-Shift-Click>` to select links doesn't work,
  sometimes. Oh, and also, touchpad-scrolling in the terminal is unusable.
- No way to move the windows by maintaining `<Alt>`, you have to grab their
  status bar: this might be acceptable when using the 13" screen, but on a dual
  4k monitors setup, it's awful. There is a [tiling
  extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tiling-window-manager-for/aikaaejchodabfpkipfonnekofgepakh),
  but it's not great.
- Most of the actions feel sluggish, likely due to non-disableable animations __everywhere__.
- No way to make a window "always on top" or "always on the active desktop".
- Some shortcuts are being used by the browser: `<C-u>` will sometimes show your the
  source code of the app you're in, instead of clearing the current prompt, or
  simply not work at all, like on the lockscreen.
- The keyboard layout is weird, with a "search" key instead of a compose key.
  Speaking of compose key, [an
  extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/composekey/iijdllfdmhbmlmnbcohgbfagfibpbgba)
  is required to use one, but it's super-brittle.
- Some [shortcuts](https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/183101) are…
  peculiar and __can't be changed__!
    - `<Alt-Backspace>` because there is no`<Del>` key
    - `<Search-Left>` and `<Search-Right>` for `<Home>` and `<End>` respectively, but `<Alt-Up>`
      and `<Alt-Down>` are working for `<PgUp>` and `<PgDown>`, while `<Alt-Left>`
      and `<Alt-Right>` aren't working for `<Home>`/`<End>`.
    - `<Search-]>` to move to the right desktop, instead of `Crtl-Alt-left>`
    - `<Search-Alt>` for capslock
    - `<Alt-[>` to dock a window on the left (except terminal windows), …
    - Big up to the `<Ctrl-n>` one who will open a new window, instead of telling my IRC client that I don't want to paste multiple-lines.
- `<Alt-Tab>` is switching between windows on _all_ desktops.
- No [trackpoint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick), but this is what one gets for not using a Thinkpad.
- Despite having the power button acting as a security key, I haven't found a
  way to expose it to the Linux VM, and it seems to [not be
  possible](https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=1030778).

Used with external monitors, an external keyboard and a mouse, it's bearable.
But I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone doing anything outside of a
full-screen web-browser.